Korra - A New Spiritual Age - Review

Previous Korra reviews:
Ep. 13+14: "Rebel Spirit" and "The Southern Lights"
Ep. 15: "Civil Wars, Part 1"
Ep. 16: "Civil Wars, Part 2"
Ep. 17: "Peacekeepers"
Ep. 18: "The Sting"
Ep. 19/20: "The Beginning, Part 1&2"
Ep. 21: "The Guide"


As always SPOILERS!




”Even in the material world, you will find if you look for the light, you can often find it. But if you look for the dark, that is all you will ever see.”



I was not prepared for this. Epic narratives, lovable characters, actual genuinely decent plot twists? In The Legend of Korra? You’re pulling my leg! Stop rubbing your eyes, it's all true. “A New Spiritual Age” has all that and it’s glorious. I never wanted The Legend of Korra to be like its predecessor, but to consistently carry the same level of high quality and sense of magical wonderment Avatar easily captured. Korra needs to be its own show, but I admit I love the Avatar-ish feel of this episode (same for the past three.) For the first time in a long time, I feel like this show can be really, really, really good. It's a shame it took them this long to do so, but better late than never (also, come on, they still have Books 3 and 4.)

It certainly helped when they brought back an old favorite. Separated from Jinora; lost and scared; and literally stuck in rugrat mode, Korra is eventually rescued by Iroh. Not General Iroh, Iroh Iroh. There was an overwhelming sense beating in my heart when I saw him and I knew this episode would kick ass. He invites Korra to his tea party and as always, provides her with some sound advice. He’s exactly as you remembered him: wise, noble, and kind. It totally makes sense that he’d live in the Spirit World; the previous show already hinted his connections with ‘em and frankly, no one deserves better. I love that he wears the same Earth Kingdom clothes that he did in the finale episode of Avatar because it indicates he really did do what he wanted after the series ended: retire, drink tea, and play Pai Sho all day. Hell, he’s still doing it. He’s just the guy Korra needed and his presence is a treat for longtime fans.

“A New Spiritual Age” takes a good look into Korra’s personality. Iroh’s lesson is the same in “Beginnings:" one can find light in spite of darkness. I still think they’re wasting an opportunity by not striving for equality between the Light and Dark (I just think it's too black and white for a franchise that's otherwise deconstructed and even subverted such moralities), but Iroh’s words can be applied to Korra’s behavior. She spent the first five episodes of Book Two as a vengeful, angry young lady. She didn’t listen to anyone and let wrath consume her as she marched around like some entitled bitch. She let “darkness” into her heart, basically. I think the point where she really went overboard is when she threatened the judge via Death By Polar Bear-Dog. After that, it just crashed and burned. Her boyfriend left her because she was being an idiot, nobody is giving her what she wants, and she isn’t listening to what she needs. Oh, and she suffered amnesia from a failed Dark Spirit battle. Wah-waaaah. The point of “A New Spiritual Age” is that Korra had to rediscover her “light.” She had to return to who she once was before the events of the civil war. This episode is her personal journey. This is also why I think she became a literal child. It’s not just because she’s lost and scared in this strange, strange world, but because she was immature and childish. Until she learned, she was in her truest form.  

Karma seems to be a running theme for Korra, too. There’s a smaller, second lesson concerning her role as the Avatar. She’s spent much of Book Two struggling on whether she should be neutral (which everyone keeps telling her be) versus choosing one side over the other (which Korra did.) I think regardless of what path she chooses, her ultimate goal is to help anyone in need. Doing bad deeds brings bad misfortunate, something Korra suffered for the first five episodes. Do good and good things will come to you no matter how insignificant the act is, hence Korra returning the baby phoenix-dragon back to its nest and in return, the creature grows up and helps her. Korra had to grow up and “A New Spiritual Age” takes a deep, insightful look into her flaws and importantly, help her conquer it. Now let’s hope Iroh’s lesson sticks for the reminder of the show.



I like Jinora’s expanded role, too. She gets to be resourceful and find some vital information for Korra and oh my God, her radio talk to Wan Shi Tong. Yeah, you tell that jerk owl whoknowstenthousandthings about sound waves. But oh my GOD I did not see the ending coming. Unalaq may be a bore, but he plays the evil card right. He forces Korra to open the other portal in exchange for Jinora’s life. It’s not enough to just threaten her death, nooooo, he has to strip her fucking soul. Dude, that’s cold. Korra does save her in time, but Jinora is still kidnapped by the time Korra returns to the material world. Tenzin’s fearful voice and Korra’s devastated face is all that is needed to know that shit has hit the fan. Whatever little sympathy I had for Unalaq is officially gone—he’s past the point of no return now.

This is a damn good episode. The return of Wan Shi Tong and Iroh could have just been slapped in purely to entice older fans, but they’re integrated to the plot. Korra’s character development is expertly crafted and filled with fridge brilliance, and while the overall story has always been engaging, they definitely up the ante. “A New Spiritual Age” is slowly rebuilding my confidence in the show. Now if they can figure out a way to work that love triangle so it doesn’t turn into a crapshoot, all will be well.
OUT OF FIVE STARS




OH GOD NO: Ya know, I always wanted to know what happened to Professor Zei when he decided to stay in the library. I didn’t think they’d actually show it, but they did and it’s horrifying. I…guess he died doing what he loved?

FURRY-COLDFEET: Furry-Foot immediately backs away when Wan Shi Tong tells Jinora to get the fuck out of his library. It hides behind a column in fear. XD


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